# Abbreviations / diminutives that make you grind your teeth. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 21, 2015, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-diminutives-that-make-you-grind-your-teeth/710521 "2015-01-21T21:54:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-diminutives-that-make-you-grind-your-teeth/710521/61 "2015-01-23T06:05:40Z")
Even though it apparently is a medically accepted term, for some reason I find the word “preemie” for a premature baby highly offensive to my ears. A premature baby is one who may be subject to severe health problems for the rest of their lives, “preemie” makes it sound like “AAAW look at the cute little 3 ounce preemie-poo on the respirator, goochy goochy goo!” ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-diminutives-that-make-you-grind-your-teeth/710521/62 "2015-01-23T06:12:04Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > Even though it apparently is a medically accepted term, for some reason I find the word “preemie” for a premature baby highly offensive to my ears. A premature baby is one who may be subject to severe health problems for the rest of their lives, “preemie” makes it sound like “AAAW look at the cute little 3 ounce preemie-poo on the respirator, goochy goochy goo!” I always though that was intentional, to make it less frightening for the mother. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-diminutives-that-make-you-grind-your-teeth/710521/63 "2015-01-23T06:18:32Z")
I have always hated hoodie. It sounds like something no one over the age of 6 months should be wearing. It’s a damn sweatshirt. On the rare occasions a hooded sweatshirt needs to be differentiated from a non-hooded sweatshirt it shall be called by the name “hooded sweatshirt” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-diminutives-that-make-you-grind-your-teeth/710521/64 "2015-01-23T06:26:44Z")
> [@Mithras](#): > > I expand DH and DD to “designated hitter” and “drunk driver” but unfortunately don’t have anything to make DS feel less cloying in my head. Try “Deviated Septum.” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-diminutives-that-make-you-grind-your-teeth/710521/65 "2015-01-23T06:35:07Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > You guys need to \*not \*come to Australia. Everything is abbreviated here. Everything. > > Those above are routine, plus: > > Pressie (present) > Cossie (swimming costume) > Mossie (mosquito) > Brissie (Brisbane) > The ‘ss’ in those is pronounced ‘zz’. > > Mushie (mushroom) > Barbie (BBQ) > Arvo (afternoon) > Cockie (cockroach or cockatoo) > Sickie (medical leave, usually on false pretenses) > Ciggie (cigarette) > Pokie (poker machine) > Rego (vehicle registration) > Hottie (hot water bottle, or hot flush) > Footy (football) > Cardy (cardigan) > Postie (postman) > Pollie (politician) > Kindy (kindergarten) > > and my personal favourite > Premmy (premature baby) > > And we do abbreviate names, but usually just last names. Sometimes the abbreviation is longer than the original: > > Richo: Richards, Richardson > Kev: Kevin > Stevo: Stevens, Stevenson > Johnno: Johns, Johnson > Wayne-o: Wayne (I know, I know) I imagine as far as “cossies” are concerned, Iron Man is one of the least popular. Seriously? People wear costumes to go swimming? ---
**Author:** ![Recusant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@Recusant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Recusant)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-diminutives-that-make-you-grind-your-teeth/710521/66 "2015-01-23T06:42:34Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > I have never liked “bro”. I never know how it’s supposed to be pronounced (i.e., to rhyme with “yo” or “yuh”) and I think it sounds awkward either way. I’ll toss in its further-degraded cousin, ‘brah’. “Broh” makes sense; that’s how the word it’s derived from is pronounced. “Bruh” makes sense; that’s how it’s phonetically spelled. But if your word for a recipient of generic masculine comradeship is a piece of women’s underwear, then, well, you ought, at the very least, to be a far more interesting person than you are. I must also object to ‘crap’ as abbreviation of ‘crappy’ and ‘invite’ as a substitute for ‘invitation’. I’m starting to think I’m the last person on Earth who actually owns a dictionary. And although this battle was lost before I even knew it was happen, I will die objecting to ‘app’, especially regarding anything more complex than a stopwatch. No, Windows, my operating system does not ‘have a compatibility problem with this app’, because it is not an app. It is a program, coded fifteen years ago, when you weren’t allowed to be a computer programmer if you were afraid of multisyllabic words. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-diminutives-that-make-you-grind-your-teeth/710521/67 "2015-01-23T07:51:30Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Taking a “Selfie” is the newest one for me. It just sets me right on edge especially when adults use the term especially in print journalism. I am on a personal crusade to destroy that word from all human lexicon. \ What is your preferred term? Is “self photo” the right amount of abbreviation? ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-diminutives-that-make-you-grind-your-teeth/710521/68 "2015-01-23T10:11:15Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I imagine as far as “cossies” are concerned, Iron Man is one of the least popular. > > Seriously? People wear costumes to go swimming? Not in the sense you’re thinking of. In this context “costume” simply means “(set of) clothes”, or “outfit”. I get the impression it’s a survival from the days, a century or more ago, when people generally wore a good deal more when swimming. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-diminutives-that-make-you-grind-your-teeth/710521/69 "2015-01-23T10:38:23Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > You guys need to \*not \*come to Australia. Everything is abbreviated here. Everything. > > Those above are routine, plus: > > Pressie (present) > Cossie (swimming costume) > Mossie (mosquito) > Brissie (Brisbane) > The ‘ss’ in those is pronounced ‘zz’. > > Mushie (mushroom) > Barbie (BBQ) > Arvo (afternoon) > Cockie (cockroach or cockatoo) > Sickie (medical leave, usually on false pretenses) > Ciggie (cigarette) > Pokie (poker machine) > Rego (vehicle registration) > Hottie (hot water bottle, or hot flush) > Footy (football) > Cardy (cardigan) > Postie (postman) > Pollie (politician) > Kindy (kindergarten) > > and my personal favourite > Premmy (premature baby) > > And we do abbreviate names, but usually just last names. Sometimes the abbreviation is longer than the original: > > Richo: Richards, Richardson > Kev: Kevin > Stevo: Stevens, Stevenson > Johnno: Johns, Johnson > Wayne-o: Wayne (I know, I know) My first wife was Australian. We might have parted ways, but at at least she didn’t talk like that, bless her. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-diminutives-that-make-you-grind-your-teeth/710521/70 "2015-01-23T11:49:08Z")
Pressie and crimbo both make me want to hurt non-American people. Especially if they add them together. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-diminutives-that-make-you-grind-your-teeth/710521/71 "2015-01-23T12:24:43Z")
“Zerts are what I call desserts. Tray-trays are entrees. I call sandwiches sammies, sandoozles, or Adam Sandlers. Air conditioners are cool-blasterz, with a z. I don’t know where that came from. I call cakes big ol’ cookies. I call noodles long-ass rice. Fried chicken is fri-fri chicky-chick. Chicken parm is chicky chicky parm parm. Chicken cacciatore? Chicky catch. I call eggs pre-birds, or future birds. Root beer is super water. Tortillas are bean blankies. And I call forks … Food rakes.” ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-diminutives-that-make-you-grind-your-teeth/710521/72 "2015-01-23T12:25:51Z")
> [@Recusant](#): > > I must also object to ‘crap’ as abbreviation of ‘crappy’ It’s an [attributive noun](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noun_adjunct). I only object to those when they apply to people, because they seem reductivist: the phrase “Democrat Politician” (or the rarer antisemitic phrases like “Jew Lawyer”) seem to essentialize the people as being _just_ a Democrat or a Jew, whereas “Democratic Politician” seems to be a person who happens to be a Democrat. ---
**Author:** ![Recusant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@Recusant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Recusant)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-diminutives-that-make-you-grind-your-teeth/710521/73 "2015-01-23T21:01:42Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > It’s an [attributive noun](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noun_adjunct). I only object to those when they apply to people, because they seem reductivist: the phrase “Democrat Politician” (or the rarer antisemitic phrases like “Jew Lawyer”) seem to essentialize the people as being _just_ a Democrat or a Jew, whereas “Democratic Politician” seems to be a person who happens to be a Democrat. That’s a linguistic copout if ever I’ve heard one. There’s nothing gained in not just using the adjective, save a spoken syllable that you’re spared; the only time it might be preferable is if you’ve taken a vow of silence that allows only a certain number of syllables per time period. It may be technically grammatically correct, and of course people have every right to talk that way if they choose, but it does make my grind my teeth. For that matter, you know those chunks of keratin on the top and back of your head? Do you refer to them as ‘scalps’? No, of course not; you know the difference between an object and the place in which it grows, right? If you are capable of making that distinction, you have absolutely no reason to refer to pubic hair as ‘pubes’. ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-diminutives-that-make-you-grind-your-teeth/710521/74 "2015-01-23T21:49:59Z")
Wow, I am irritated by almost every one of these. I can accept “selfie” because it isn’t really taking the place of a real word. “Self-portrait” sounds like you are painting or drawing it. I hate “guac” for guacamole. ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Boods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Ms\_Boods](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Boods)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2015, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-diminutives-that-make-you-grind-your-teeth/710521/75 "2015-01-24T13:30:23Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I hate, hate hate it when people say “sammy”…makes it sound like they’re a two year old, or talking to a two year old. It’s not cute or funny, it’s just dumb. Same goes for saying that something is ‘nummy’ (or even yummy). The other thing I really hate is when people use DH/DD/DS on message boards. Just say husband/daughter/son. Gah! Is that what that stands for? DH are Mr Boods’ actual initials. All this time I just thought he got around. On topic: adults who use childish terms for genitalia or excretory functions. I’m not saying that you have to use precise biological or medical terminology al the time, but an adult calling a vagina a ‘woo woo’ makes me stabby (this from a woman who bred sheep, back when I had a little sheep farm, as well as from veterinarians who thought I wouldn’t understand the actual terms for defecate or urinate, etc). ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Boods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Ms\_Boods](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Boods)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2015, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-diminutives-that-make-you-grind-your-teeth/710521/76 "2015-01-24T13:36:57Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > You guys need to \*not \*come to Australia. Everything is abbreviated here. Everything. > > Those above are routine, plus: > > Pressie (present) > Cossie (swimming costume) > Mossie (mosquito) > Brissie (Brisbane) > The ‘ss’ in those is pronounced ‘zz’. > > Mushie (mushroom) > Barbie (BBQ) > Arvo (afternoon) > Cockie (cockroach or cockatoo) > Sickie (medical leave, usually on false pretenses) > Ciggie (cigarette) > Pokie (poker machine) > Rego (vehicle registration) > Hottie (hot water bottle, or hot flush) > Footy (football) > Cardy (cardigan) > Postie (postman) > Pollie (politician) > Kindy (kindergarten) > > and my personal favourite > Premmy (premature baby) > > And we do abbreviate names, but usually just last names. Sometimes the abbreviation is longer than the original: > > Richo: Richards, Richardson > Kev: Kevin > Stevo: Stevens, Stevenson > Johnno: Johns, Johnson > Wayne-o: Wayne (I know, I know) Lots of similiar abbreviations in the UK as well, albeit with a variant on the names – Jeremy becomes Jez or Jezza, Darren turns into Daz, &c. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2015, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-diminutives-that-make-you-grind-your-teeth/710521/77 "2015-01-24T13:42:45Z")
www Sound that shit out. Same goes for http. People never ask me for uniform resource locators for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2015, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-diminutives-that-make-you-grind-your-teeth/710521/78 "2015-01-24T19:20:34Z")
I’d like to talk to you when you have a “mo.” (When I have a what??) As already mentioned, “cray-cray” and “vacay.” I’ll throw in “vajayjay” as well though I must admit I hardly ever see or hear it. They all sound like Pig Latin to me. Mentioned too: “preggers.” Just plain ugh. ---
**Author:** ![Grotonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c2a13f/32.png) [@Grotonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grotonian)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2015, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-diminutives-that-make-you-grind-your-teeth/710521/79 "2015-01-24T20:30:51Z")
> [@WotNot](#): > > Not in the sense you’re thinking of. In this context “costume” simply means “(set of) clothes”, or “outfit”. I get the impression it’s a survival from the days, a century or more ago, when people generally wore a good deal more when swimming. So, like a bathing “suit”? ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2015, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-diminutives-that-make-you-grind-your-teeth/710521/80 "2015-01-24T22:43:56Z")
> [@Grotonian](#): > > So, like a bathing “suit”? Why, yes — that would be another way of putting it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-diminutives-that-make-you-grind-your-teeth/710521.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-diminutives-that-make-you-grind-your-teeth/710521.md?page=5)